Eel knife



J. T. STOKES I 2,364,250

Dec. 5-, 1944.

EEL KNIFE Filed Feb. 18, 1944 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EEL KNIFE Joseph Thomas Stokes, Atlantic City, N; J. Application February 18, 1944, Serial No. 522,993

1 Claim.

fitting in a slot I4 in a handle IS. The shank I4 is made secure by the usual rivets Ill.

The outer flat cutting portion I of the blade I0 preferably lies in the plane of the shank [2.

The blade is also provided with a bowed formation 20 comprising a bend in the blade adjacent the end of the handle I6. One edge of the cut ting portion Ill of the blade I6 is provided with a cutting edge 22 arranged in generally converging relationship with respect to the straight edge 24 so as to bring the blade to a sharp point 26. Cutting edge 22 is formed with a convexed length 26 extending rearwardly from the point 26 and a concaved length 30 extending up to the bowed formation 20, the adjacent end of the cutting portion I0 being of substantially the same width as the bowed formation. I

Edge 24 is notched at 32 to provide gripper teeth 34 having the form of truncated cones when viewed according to Figure 2. Similar gripper teeth 36 are formed along the edge of the bowed formation 20 in alignment with the teeth 34.

However, the teeth 36 project slightly beyond the teeth 34 and are inclined slightly in the direction of the axis of the bowed formation 20. a

In operation, the blade I0, particularly with respect to its cutting edge 22, may be employed in the manner of an ordinary knife, as when making a longitudinal incision in the belly of the eel for cleaning purposes. For skinning purposes, the eel is cut through the bone at its throat and downwardly a short distance, at which time the meat of the eel may be grasped by the bowed formation 20 and the skin stripped therefrom. The bowed formation is located adjacent the handle I6 so that the meat of the eel may be pressed firmly into the bowed formation 20 and held firmly therein by thumb pressure. The teeth 36 secure a firm grip on the meat so that the eel I may be held firmly in the bowed portion while the skin is being pulled therefrom by the other hand. Teeth 34 also perform a gripping formation' analogous to the teeth 36, as when it is desirable to grip the eel with the straight run of the blade.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

An eel knife comprising a handle, a blade having a flat shank attached to one end of the bandle, said blade also having a bowed portion therein adjacent the handle and lying to one side of the plane of the shank, and gripping teeth along one edge of said bowed portion and angled toward the axis of the bowed portion.

JOSEPH THOMAS STOKES. 

